Policies and strategies to control antimicrobial resistance in livestock production: A comparative analysis of national action plans in European Union Member States
Caetano Luiz Beber, Maurizio Aragrande, Massimo Canali
Abstract
• EU-MS show varied progress in NAPs for AMU and AMR in livestock. • Strong governance and One Health collaboration are key to reducing antimicrobial consumption. • Enhanced veterinary education on AMU/AMR leads to significant reductions in antimicrobial use. • Monitoring systems for AMU and AMR are crucial for informed policy-making/intervention. • Policies must address past AMU patterns and focus on specific livestock sectors. Policy strategies targeting imprudent antimicrobial use (AMU) in livestock farming have been established at the global and country levels, recognising the risks associated with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This study evaluates the strategies addressing AMU and AMR in animal farms and the food supply chain in EU Member States using a multimethod approach. Our aim is to contribute to the debates surrounding the goals set by the EU Commission and the ‘Strategic framework for collaboration on antimicrobial resistance: Together for One Health’. We first review the policies, strategies and specific legislation in the European Union (EU) and Member States about AMU/AMR in livestock production. We then evaluate the national action plans for AMU reduction in the EU using the progressive management pathway tool from the FAO. Finally, we assess the measures that affect AMU reduction by applying a system generalised method of moments to a 8-year panel of the same countries. According to our results, efforts to reduce AMU could be focused on controlling excessive AMU in the pig sector. Further veterinary training on AMU/AMR and improvements in the performance of the veterinary sector, as well as strengthening the development of multisector and One Health collaboration and coordination, can also contribute to achieving better standards in AMU reduction in the livestock sector and, consequently, for AMR control.